Summer isn't even quite over yet but we are already thinking about great Fall fishing. Truth be told there is great fishing going on right now in California for everything from trout and bass to steelhead and striper. Read on for the scoop...

The AR had a great push of shad this year and the fishing was pretty darn good. recently after the shad left striper fishing was really good. Currently the shad are all gone and striper fishing has slowed a bit in correlation. Don't get this wrong fishing is still decent, but it is mostly about trophy hunting. We are getting mostly 3 to 6 lb fish with a few to 10 or 12 lbs but this is not the numbers game that we are finding here earlier or are experiencing now the Western Delta and Napa River. For now you will want to start at first light and things have slowed by noon so we are often off the water by 1:00 on our guide trips.

The trout/steelhead fishing has been pretty slow recently. Given the warm temperatures if you have the ability it may be best to target trout elsewhere in the Sierra where water temps are cooler.

Fishing is fair to good on California's San Joaquin River Delta. We have mixed it up a bit recently targeting everything from smallmouth and largemouth to Striper. Smallmouth fishing slowed slightly this week overall but that should bounce back. On the other hand on a recent trip we wrangled a bunch of schoolie striper that were taking baitfish on the surface which more than made up for the slower SMB bite. In addition to striper and smallmouth, topwater largemouth has been good from first light to about 9 and then again in the evening.

Along with the smaller schoolie striper we have been finding a few scattered larger fish in the Western portion of the Delta near Antioch. Productive patterns for striper include a mix of rattle Clousers Minnows and traditional clousers in 4-6" lengths.

If you are interested in half day topwater bass trips or combination full day striper/bass outings please let us know. This is a great way to get beginners into fly fishing due to the numbers of fish hooked and once guests have have had their fill or bass, there are striper around for those who so desire and who posses the requisite skill. The user friendly nature of the casting required for topwater bass and how visually stimulating it is to have a bass pounce on your fly 15 to 20 feet from the boat make this a good choice for a variety of guests.

Expect fair to good smallmouth and largemouth trough September before they begin to taper off. As fishing for the aforementioned wanes, striper fishing will improve and again captivate our attention heading into the Winter. Fall is prime Delta striper fishing so get your days reserved now! Call (707)287-2939.

Guide Tip : Hard to beat large size 2 Topwater frogs for the Largemouth, small size 6-8 poppers for Smallmouth & size 1/0-2/0 Clouser minnows for Stripers. For Topwater Stripers that are feeding on smaller bait I like to use 1/0-2/0 Crease flies with silver bellies. Striper fishing is not far off, October & November are almost always 2 of the better months & will of course book up quickly so reserve your spots soon!

In addition we offer a very unique Kayak fishing program where guests paddle the slews, canals, weed lines, rock walls and larger open water in search of fly fishing targets.

The Fall river continues to produce well despite smoky conditions. The Hex hatch has started to slow but hatches are still ongoing at last light. The river is still producing good numbers of fish. Morning has seen a spinner fall and later in the day tiny tricos and larger PMD's are actively popping throughout the river with caddis emerging in the evening. Swinging soft hackles in the runs and leaches in the deeper holes is continuing to produce quality fish.

Fishing on the Feather for half pounder steelhead has been so so of late. Summer run steelhead in the 12 to 18" range and an occasional 20 to 22" have found the net.

Nymphing of course is the best option for the most fish, however, we have been having a great time swinging small switch and spey rods for these fish as well. The steelhead fishing is decent in both high and low flow areas. Salmon are in the system especially down below Thermolito so this should bring in some steelhead to add to what's already here.

There are striper in the Feather right now as well but we simply haven't been targeting them much as fishing has been so good on the Yuba and American. It may be worth having a look though.

Salmon fishing is open on the Feather as of July 15. This river offers one of the best chances to hook and land a salmon on a fly rod in California. If you are interested give us a ring. (707)287-2939 or (916)722-1055.

If you plan to book trips with us in the Fall on the Feather for the Egg Bite, booking well in advance is highly recommended. We already have dates booked, and space is becoming limited for prime time so reserve today.

Hat Creek is fishing well with fish keying on Tricos in the morning and Baetis and PMD's throughout the rest of the day. Nymphing with attractor nymphs has worked well lately. In addition Tricos are coming off en masse down in the Carbon Flat area and fish are on the take so don't ignore dries. Caddis are also a good bet and swinging a soft hackle or other suggestive caddis pattern can be very productive. Due to the heat focus your efforts early and late in the day.

The McCloud is in great shape and fishing well although there is still some smoke in the air. Focus on oxygenated water during the middle of the day but early and late has fished best. The dry dropper with a stimulator and an attractor nymphs a foot or two below it continues to produce. These large dries imitate the golden stones that have been around in good numbers. They are begging to thin, Going pocket to pocket with this set up is a blast right not. Don't forget to drag a bugger or sculpin pattern through the deep holes as mr brown trout might take you up on the offer.

As if there weren't enough good reasons to come visit the Napa Valley this Fall may we suggest adding fishing the Napa River with us to the list. Fishing continues to be quite good of late in Wine Country especially on the Napa River for striper. Fish have been on the move the last couple weeks, and we are seeing some larger fish moving into the system. The Fishing is just about to lift off! Actually from now through November fishing is prime, so it may be good to start thinking about this lesser known part of the S.F. Bay/Delta.

As far as gear goes, you will want a 7 to 8 wt rod with sinking lines (T - 11 to T - 14) with 1/0 to 3/0 clouser style flies. Fishing the current seams, drop offs, structure should produce. We move a lot to find fish, but once you do...it's fish on!

The Pit River is fishing well. Best hatches are Baetis, PMD's in the mornings and Caddis in the evening. Temperatures are hot here and there is fire danger so be careful. Stay alert and drink plenty of water. Focus on the oxygenated fast moving water however swinging a streamer through the deeper holes is a smart move.

Putah continues to fish well again this week. Flows have dropped to 448 as of today. There are quite a few 12 to 13" fish around however some much larger ones in 18 to 20+ found the net this week again. Fishing the small stuff continues to pay off. High sticking and euro nymphing has been the ticket. Nymphing with Midges, BWO's and Caddis is the name of the game and in that order of importance

If you live in San Francisco, the Bay Area or Sacramento and if you like catching big wild fish then this is one fishery you need to learn. Fishing is good and it will continue to fish well as flows drop heading into Fall.

Guide Tip: Remember to use plenty of weight and long leaders to get your flies down to the fish. Try a long non tapered leaders and plenty of shot to get flies down to the desired depth. Also you may want to give streamers a go right now too. You never know, you may hook the fish of a lifetime.

Fishing has been so so for smallmouth recently on the Russian. This is not the typical numbers fishery that most smallmouth waters are. We target these bronze beauties on variety of lines using streamers and occasionally there can be some topwater action first thing in the morning as well. It is important to keep an eye on water temps as smalleys like 70 degree water. Look to fish along rocky ledges or bed rock, or the deeper pools. Fish clousers and craw dad patterns on the bottom. Remember to wade and approach "fishy water" cautiously and you will likely be rewarded. It is more about size here that on the Delta or other local smallmouth fisheries.

To target Summer smalleys or get on the call list for steelhead for next year please call. (707)287-2939.

We continue find decent numbers of fish in the San Francisco Bay. It is all about hitting the tides right at the right light angle. Some days are better than others but most days are predictably good. Striper are the name of the game right now. Good water flows and healthy bait population continue to provide a fantastic environment throughout this fishery. Anglers with a modicum of casting ability tend to do best however our guides are good at setting up even first time striper anglers for success. There are even some near shore opportunities for Kelp Bass depending on conditions. Despite the challenges of this fishery there is something inherently cool about fly fishing within sight of the Golden Gate Bridge!

Having a competent captain is even more imperative in the San Francisco Bay and on the Delta than some of the other fisheries in California. Fortunately we have the best in the biz!

If you will be in San Francisco Bay Area or live close and want to get out and give this a try give us a ring at (530)242-4122(O) (707)287-2939 (C)

Fishing had been fairly good recently for those willing to fish despite smoky conditions. Blue wing olives, midges and Caddis are what anglers need to pay attention to currently. There is good fishing from Redding all the way to Anderson right now. Please stay off the reds in the upper river as Chinook Salmon are spawning in this area.

Guide tip: Lower Sac fish are notorious for the lightest of takes. Fish will mouth small flies and spit them out without any visible hints transferred up the line to the indicator. Often guests will turn and look at the guide and ask "was that a fish?" after a slight pause or just the lightest of "tick" visible on the indicator. Set on everything! We recommend you set first ask questions later.

The lower Sacramento has a good run of striper that those who like chasing these hardy game fish will want to know about. Contact us for more info.

The Upper Sac is fishing good right now although the river is warming. Anglers will want to venture up river to the area above Dunsmuir to find best fishing. Golden Stones had been hatching but are thinning now. Small caddis, Midges are good bets. With warmer weather and water conditions savy anglers will want to focus on the turbulent highly oxygenated water just down stream of riffles for best success. A dry dropper is a great way to fish the Upper sac also working later in the day once the light gets off the water.

Recent releases have brought up a push of salmon and with them steelhead! Highway 299 is open with no restrictions. Steelhead are concentrated in the lower river from Junction City down. This is a great time to get up and swing for them.

If you are planning on fishing steelhead this Fall or Winter on the Trinity then you will want to get your guide and accommodations reserved soon as things are filling up fast. Call (707)287-2939 direct or call the shop at (916)722-1055.

The Truckee is still fishing well however the weather is causing the water to warm also. As a result fishing is best first thing in the morning and then again the last hour or two of daylight. Our guide trips are limited to half days on the main Truckee currently as a result. If you simply must go fishing in the afternoon focus on the highly oxygenated water below riffles and boulder runs. Also we recommend taking a thermometer along. According to some of our biologist friends, fishing above 67 degrees can cause fish mortality rates to sky rocket. We recommend staying below that temp if you go.

Nymphing is producing the best numbers however there is still some potential for dry fly fishing with Caddis. If you see splashy rises try skating an Elk Hair Caddis and see what happens. Swinging a soft hackle may not be a bad idea either.

The little Truckee is not as susceptible to hot weather due to it being a tailwater. As long as flows continue to remain at appropriate levels excessively warm water is generally not an issue here. Hatches consist mostly of Baetis PMD's and Caddis on both the Main Truckee and LT. Add to this Carpenter Ants on the LT and you should be good to go.

Anglers must approach quietly on the Little Truckee so as to now scare off fish. A long leader and realistic looking flies are also helpful during Summer lower water conditions.

Give us a ring at (707)287-2939 or at the shop (916)722-1055 to get out and make it happen.

Yosemite Area Trout - Fair. Water temps 50's to high 60's. Water Clarity - "Gin clear"

Things are fishing well in the Yosemite Area as long as you can get in and get up to the high country. The Ferguson fire has caused some major challenges and Yosemite valley is still closed. Highway 140 and 120 are both open. The Valley is open however it is the higher elevations that are fishing best right now. Due to warm water temps fishing early morning is best. Again keep a thermometer handy and try to limit fishing over 67 degrees.

Trout fishing on the Lower Yuba has been fairly good recently. There are some fish to be had but folks are working for them a little. A few Salmon have returned to the lower river and with them California steelhead. They along with resident rainbows have been eating rubber leg and mayfly nymphs pretty well. Try a variety of techniques from nymphing the deeper runs and pools to dry fly fishing in the eddys. Warmer summer weather has also brought grasshoppers to the river banks, so fishing near the banks with the appropriate dries is worth your attention as well.

The lower Yuba below Daguerre Dam is still fishing well for striper. We have exclusive access to drift this area as well as maneuver up to fish via jet boats. This area can hold really great fishing. While shad fishing is currently done we are still getting 15 to 25 striper per day. We have had some fish to 10+ lbs in the boat in the last couple days. Having the river to ourselves with really good fishing has made for some fun trips recently.

Water in the Yuba is super clear and watching a big striper follow your fly from the bank all the way to the boat before inhaling it and tearing off for cover is something you have to experience. What's more on the Yuba you don't have to be up at O' dark-thirty to find fish like other places and we hardly see anyone on the river this time of year. Take advantage of this virtually exclusive access to one of Northern California's fly fishing gems.

Call now as we have very limited calendar dates and the phone seems to be ringing off the hook right now. Do not delay...call (707)287-2939 direct or at the shop (916)722-1055 for more info or to reserve some really good fishing.

The Summer Bite is on full throttle here on Almanor. Midges, Calibeties and Damsel patterns are doing well for most anglers. Some Hex are still hatching in the early mornings. Right now if you're not catching something on your first or second cast you're in the wrong spot. A good depth finder and knowing how to use it is key to finding the right spot. Most of the Trout have been Rainbows with 1 or 2 Browns each day. Size class has been good also with a 23" Average. Almanor is another Sierra Lake that you you may want to explore. This is big fish country!

Guide Tip : Indicators have been the ticket to catching a lot of Trout. If you want to break the 26" mark you need to strip.

Action has been hit or miss on Clear Lake for fly fishers for whatever reason this year. Some days we have to do allot of searching and will stumble on a good pod of bass. Other days we just do allot of searching. Summer is the time for streamers, however the streamer fishing out here is extremely technical. It has Honestly felt like steelhead fishing out here recently. You just have to put in time but there's real quality fish to be had when they're found. Run a type 6 shooting head in 15-20' of water. A six weight rod is ideal for tight loops and accurate casts in close quarters. It is all about fishing structure. Small clouser minnows are always the go to, to imitate the heavily present shad this time of year.

There is something special in our opinion about summer bass fishing. Things are jumping off pretty good for here in California especially top water. Half day evening trips from 4:00 until dark during prime top-water hours have been working out well . Anglers can expect around 8-25 blowups each, depending on skill level, and productivity of the day. We've been getting lots of typical sized spotted bass in the 1-1.5lb range. With a few in the 2-4lb class hooked each trip. Best action has been had on points with diving baitfish flies.

Oroville and many of our Sierra Foothill bass lakes will fish well throughout the Fall with awesome numbers to be had as late as early November. Let us know if we can assist in setting up a memorable fly fishing trip for you this Summer or Fall. Give us a call for updates or to get in on the action direct (707)2287-2939 or at the shop (916)722-1055.

Guide Tip: Wear a wide brimmed hat for shade in conjunction with quick drying breathable clothing. Also having a Buff or bandanna to dip in the lake or even the ice water in the cooler can really keep things bearable during this hot part of the year.